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Neither the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), the State of Washington nor any of its employees makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, translation, product or process that is disclosed, displayed or appears on the DCYF website. For purposes of this disclaimer the term “information” includes, but is not limited to, information that is contained within any internet link that is accessible from the DCYF website.

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Negotiated Rulemaking and Public Comments Process

DCYF is required by statute RCW 34.05.320 to organize a public comments process, as well as negotiate rules with the Family Home Providers’ union on behalf of represented family child care licensees, and include all other affected parties in this negotiation. DCYF has created a robust plan to engage the early learning community in the public comments process, and to negotiate with the various affected parties in this situation, including Child Care Centers, ECEAP and Head Start providers, and Families.

Negotiated Rule Making - Aligned Licensing Standards

Representatives of child care centers, family home child cares, Head Start and Early Childhood Education & Assistance programs, families, and child care licensors negotiated aligned licensing standards that are now codified at Chapter 110-300 WAC. Public comments were collected during negotiations and over 1,500 written comments were delivered to negotiators to inform their decisions. Negotiation sessions were public and many people attended one or more negotiation sessions to observe and offer comment. While negotiations were proceeding, all documents used were made available online along with video recordings of negotiation sessions.

Finalizing the Rules

Then Director Moss made a small number of revisions after reviewing the negotiated language for critical health and safety needs, federal Child Care Development Fund requirements, clarity, stakeholder needs and agency priorities. Proposed rules were published in the Washington State Register and, for almost two months, the agency accepted comments about them. Several changes were made in response to public comments and final rules were adopted on June 30, 2018. The rules take effect August 1, 2019.